My Town

Mountain View police release sketches of alleged lottery scammers

By Jason Green

Daily News Staff Writer

Posted:
05/09/2013 08:05:38 PM PDT

Updated:
05/10/2013 12:42:58 AM PDT

Click photo to enlarge

This is a sketch of a woman suspected to be involved in a lottery con in Mountain View on April 16, 2013, outside Chase Bank at 749 W. El Camino Real in Mountain View. The suspect is describe to be a Hispanic female in her 30', 5 feet 2 inches, 190 pounds, with long, black hair. She was last seen wearing a short sleeve black shirt, with white print on it, and black cotton pants. She was seen getting into a newer black Ford SUV with a Hispanic man. Sketch courtesy of the Mountain View Police Department.

The Mountain View Police Department released sketches Thursday of two suspects who allegedly conned a person into handing over money and jewelry in return for a cut of their supposed lottery winnings.

The victim was approached by a Spanish-speaking man outside of Chase Bank at 749 W. El Camino Real at about 11 a.m. on April 16. The man told the victim he had recently won the lottery and needed help collecting the winnings because he had entered the United States illegally, police said.

A woman joined them and helped convince the victim to drive home and provide money and jewelry as a "good faith" gesture in return for a share of the lottery winnings, police said. After the victim provided cash and jewelry, the man and woman fled in a late-model black Ford SUV.

The male suspect was described as Hispanic, in his 20s, 5-foot-7 and 150 pounds. He had short, black hair and was last seen wearing a long-sleeved plaid shirt and blue jeans.

The female suspect was described as Hispanic, in her 30s, 5-foot-2 and 190 pounds. She had long, black hair and was last seen wearing a short-sleeved black shirt with white printing on it and black cotton pants.

Police are seeking the public's help in identifying the suspects and would like other victims, if there are any, to come forward.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact Detective Fernando Maldonado at 650-903-6344 or fernando.maldonado@mountainview.gov. Information may be emailed anonymously, police said.